is kind, you will yet be friends."

"We, we? On the day of judgment, nay, not even then! Are you more firmly
bound to yon smooth fellow, than to my honest father? There stands
something in the darkness, it is good steel, and if needful will cut the
tie asunder."

"Ulrich, Ulrich!" wailed Flora, raising her hands beseechingly. "Not
that, not that; it must not be. He is kind and sensible, and loves me
fondly. Oh, Heaven! Oh, Ulrich! The mother has glided to her son at
night, as if she were following forbidden paths. Oh, this is indeed a
punishment. I know how heavily I have sinned, I deserve whatever may
befall me; but you, you must not make me more wretched, than I already
am. Your father, he... if he were still alive, for your sake I would
crawl to him on my knees, and say: 'Here I am, forgive me'--but he is
dead. Pasquale, Zorrillo lives; do not think me a vain, deluded woman;
Zorrillo cannot bear to have me leave him...."

"And my father? He bore it. But do you know how? Shall I describe his
life to you?"

"No, no! Oh, child, how you torture me! I know how I sinned against your
father, the thought does not cease to torture me, for he truly loved me,
and I loved him, too, loved him tenderly. But I cannot keep quiet a
long time, and cast down my eyes, like the women there, it is not in
my blood; and Adam shut me up in a cage and for many years let me see
nothing except himself, and the cold, stupid city in the ravine by the
forest. One day a fierce longing came upon me, I could not help going
forth--forth into the wide world, no matter with whom or whither. The
soldier only needed to hint and I fell.--I did not stay with him long,
he was a windy braggart; but I was faithful to Captain Grandgagnage and
accompanied the wild fellow with the Walloons through every land, until
he was shot. Then ten years ago, I joined Zorrillo; he is my friend,
he shares my feelings, I am necessary to his existence. Do not laugh,
Ulrich; I well know that youth lies behind me, that I am old, yet
Pasquale loves me; since I have had him, I have been more content and,
Holy Virgin! now--I love him in return. Oh, Heaven! Oh, Heaven! Why is
it so? This heart, this miserable heart, still throbs as fast as it did
twenty years ago."

"You will not leave him?"

"No, no, I love him, and I know why. Every one calls him a brave man,
yet they only half know him; no one knows him wholly as I do. No one
else is so good, so generous. You must let me sp